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Ben Esenstad

Ben Esenstad

FWISD

Career Roadmap

Ben's work combines: Education, Politics, and Teaching / Mentoring

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Day In The Life

3rd Grade Teacher

I teach students how to read and write in English and Spanish.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

    Walter Johnson HS

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Canadian Government and Politics

    University of Maryland

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Elementary School Teachers:

Bachelor's Degree: Education, General

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    I wanted to work in politics, so I decided to go to college near Washington, D.C., at the University of Maryland.

  • 2.

    My freshman year, I declared both my degrees: Government & Politics and Economics (with a minor in Spanish).

  • 3.

    I gained work experience by interning for two Members of Congress in the House of Representatives.

  • 4.

    In the spring of 2016, I decided I did not want to work in politics anymore.

  • 5.

    I applied to a program that would allow me to become a teacher without having a background in education.

  • 6.

    I was accepted into the program, passed some certification tests, and moved to Texas to become a teacher.

  • 7.

    Since the fall of 2016, I have been a 3rd grade dual language teacher in Fort Worth.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Society in general:

    I shouldn't become a teacher because I didn't study it in college.

  • How I responded:

    I keep my head down and do my best work, trying to ignore the critics. Every day I strive to be the best teacher I can be and I know that's enough for me.